by Ian Marshall, Editor

Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse, the top seed, duly remained unbeaten to secure pole position in his group as did Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yu and Iran’s Navid Shams, the next names in the order of merit.

However, for Nicolas Degros, the no.4 seed and Louis Laffineur, the 9 seed, both like Adrien Rassenfosse from Belgium, it was not the best of news. Each finished in third positions. Nicolas Degros concluded matters behind the host association’s Huang Yan-Cheng and Singapore’s Chia Jun Yuen; Louis Laffineur next in line to Kuo Chia-Hung also from Chinese Taipei and Canada’s David Xu.

Similarly, it was third place for Hong Kong’s Yu Nok, the no.10 seed, he finished behind the host’s Wang Guan-Ru and Zou Shang-Cheng;

Meanwhile, for Singapore’s Andy Wong Yan Kai, the no.6 seed and Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Kai-Cheng, the no.12 seed, it was runners up spot. Andy Wong Yan Kai was beaten by Korea’s Seo Hyeonwoo by the very narrowest of margins (8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10; for Tsai Kai-Cheng it was defeat at the hands of Singapore’s Isaac Quek Yong (11-5, 7-11, 15-13, 11-8). Seo Hyeonwoo and Isaac Quek Yong duly remained unbeaten to secure first places.

Unexpected top spots, in the remaining groups, it was as status predicted. Iran’s Radin Khayyam topped his group, as did Hong Kong’s Choy Chun Kit, Yiu Kwan To and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah. Likewise, it was first place for the Korea Republic’s Jun Seongwan.

Play in the main draw commences on Saturday 25th August.